Chapter 22
Apart from Mario and me, everyone seated at the head table was one of Gideon’s cronies. We sat around a large circular table, polished to a mirror shine, reflecting the golden glow of the chandeliers above. I ended up directly across from Gideon — not by chance, but by design. The seat to his left was left conspicuously empty. Everyone knew who it was reserved for — Joy, the girl Gideon had been flaunting around all semester like a trophy. On my side, the seat next to me was also empty. The reason was just as obvious — no one besides Mario had the guts or willingness to sit beside me. It wasn’t subtle either. Their glances, their whispers, their smug little smirks all screamed the same thing — you don’t belong here. Kenny, Gideon’s lapdog and self-proclaimed “comedian” of the group, sa
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